Presently, much of the time of the Council Meetings are taken up by individual grandstanding. The same complaints are being made by the same people.

After attending several Perth Amboy City Council Meetings, I found myself both tired and frustrated over the same redundancies from the same old waxworks – the same questions, the same answers over and over again. I really felt like I was sitting at the filming of a sitcom. I couldn’t believe some of the questions that were asked to the Council Members.

Is it really that important – the identity of an LLC that will be distributing vending machines? To a certain degree, I could say, “yes,” but it shouldn’t be the crux of a discussion.

Is it so hard for the Council attendees to come up with appropriate questions? I dare the waxworks to run for office or ask to be appointed to a Board. Presently there are vacancies available on several Boards. Why not volunteer your time? Since you are already privately doing research and presenting it to the Council, why not make a difference and apply to sit on a Board?

If these individuals believe that they could do a better job than those presently in power, then by all means please run for office. Instead of hearing yourself speak and seeing yourself on television, do something that will make a difference. Paul Wang

There are some who truly put their money where their mouth are:  One such person was the late Richard Piatkowski. He sat on Boards, attended almost every public meeting there was and tried to make a difference in the City.

Richard ran for both Council and Assembly and truly believed in his cause. Richard continued to run for office despite the fact that in his races most of time he came in last or next to last. Even after losing, he still attended the meetings. He volunteered to sit on Boards, even with his health issues.

If you think you don’t have a chance to win, look at Republican Congressman and Majority Leader Eric Cantor who was defeated by Tea Party Candidate David Brat for Virginia’s 7th Congressional District. Brat only spent $300,000 vs. $5 million for Cantor. In this case, there was a real David who beat Goliath. So it is in the realm of possibilities that you can get elected.

You can even be a “write-in” as candidates as in South Amboy’s BOE elections. Many times in South Amboy there will be 3 seats open and only 2 candidates running. The 3rd seat is often won by a “write-in.”

If you do run and win, how will you react to an audience member such as yourselves?

Once Richard Piatkowksi was thrown out of a City Council Meeting. His comments were not half as caustic as what is being thrown out by some present audience members.

I am not letting the Council off the hook either. There are times that some of their comments to the audience have been rude and uncalled for.

Just remember, the Council Meetings are a two-way street. Both the audience and Council should have mutual respect when addressing each other.

– Carolyn Maxwell
As far as personal vendettas go, if you feel so strongly that someone has wronged the City, an individual or a group, present the proof and deliver it to the proper authorities. If you are not satisfied with the Council’s response or inaction or actions, then go to a higher authority.

So tune in the next Council Meeting: Same Bat Perth Amboy Time, Same Bat Perth Amboy Channel

If you feel you can do a better job than those in office, please run and make a difference. There’s still time to put your petitions in.

– Paul Wang